Soursop

Also Known As: Graviola, Annona muricata, Aluguntugui, Sorsaka, Corossol, Stafeli, Evo, Soursop

Soursop is the fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree native to MexicoCuba,Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America, primarily ColombiaBrazilPeruEcuador, and Venezuela. Soursop is also produced in some parts of AfricaSoutheast Asia and the Pacific. It is in the same genus as the chirimoya and the same family as the pawpaw.

The soursop is adapted to areas of high humidity and relatively warm winters; temperatures below 5 °C(41 °F) will cause damage to leaves and small branches, and temperatures below 3 °C (37 °F) can be fatal. The fruit becomes dry and is no longer good for concentrate.

Other common names include: "Coração de Boi" MozambiqueEvo (EweVolta Region,Ghana),"Ekitafeeli", Uganda, "Stafeli" Swahili, Aluguntugui (GaGreater Accra Region, Ghana) guanábana(Spanish), graviola (Brazilian Portuguesepronounced: [gɾɐviˈɔlɐ]), anona (European Portuguese), corossol(French),කටු අනෝදා (Sinhalese), sorsaka (Papiamento), adunu (Acholi), Brazilian pawpaw, guyabano,guanavanatoge-banreisidurian benggaladurian belandanangka blandaทุเรียนเทศ [turi:jen te:k] (Thai),sirsakzuurzak (Dutch), tomoko (Kiswahili) and nangka londa.[1] In Malayalam, it is called മുള്ളാത്ത(mullaatha), literally thorny custard apple. The other lesser-known Indian names are shul-ram-fal andLakshmana Phala. and in Harar (Ethiopia) in Harari language known for centuries as Amba Shoukh (Thorny Mango or Thorny Fruit).

The flavour has been described as a combination of strawberry and pineapple, with sour citrus flavour notes contrasting with an underlying creamy flavour reminiscent of coconut or banana.

The fruit contains significant amounts of vitamin Cvitamin B1 and vitamin B2.[4]

Laboratory and field research suggests that soursop may have potential for various applications.[5]

The compound annonacin, which is contained in the seeds of soursop, is a neurotoxin associated with neurodegenerative disease,[6] and research has suggested a connection between consumption of soursop and atypical forms of Parkinson's disease due to high concentrations of annonacin.[7] In 2010 the Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments called for further study on the risks of annonacin exposure for human health.[8]

Cancer treatment[edit]

According to Cancer Research UK, "Many sites on the internet advertise and promote graviola capsules as a cancer cure, but none of them are supported by any reputable scientific cancer organisations" and "there is no evidence to show that graviola works as a cure for cancer" and consequently they do not support its use as a treatment for cancer.[9]

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